Feeding device



w @www H. T. MARTIN ETAL FEEDING DEVICE July 3, 1962 Filed Nov. 3, 1960 owdw July 3, 1962 H. T. MARTIN ETAL FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. s, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1962 H. T. MARTIN ETAL FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 3, 1960 July 3, 1962 H. T. MARTIN ETAL FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IITTl Filed Nov. 3, 1960 3,642,282 Patented llolly 3, 19162 die ware

Fiied Nov. 3, 196i?, Ser. No. 67,075 12 Claims. (Cl. 226-190) This invention relates to a feeding device for elongated material, such as, as an example, heavy duty strap, and is particularly concerned with means for mounting a portion of the device so that it can be pivotally moved between an operative position for feeding the strap and an out-of-the-way position for ready removal of the strap from the device.

'Mechanisms embodying the present invention have general utility for feeding or conveying elongated material. yOne preferred utilization of the invention, however, is in the iiield of packaging with ligatures and tying elements such as strap or wire made of steel or other suitable material, and particularly with heavy duty elements that are difficult to handle. Hereinbelow there is described an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which is adapted for feeding heavy duty strap; but it should be understood that any elongated material may be fed or conveyed thereby and that the terms strap and heavy duty strap as used below are intended to be generic to elongated materials and elements.

In a structure constructed in accordance with the present invention, a switch system is arranged to control both a drive motor and a solenoid operated air valve that moves a platform on which the motor is mounted. The platform is pivotally mounted to carry a feed roll into operative relationship with a cooperating idle, or backing, roll. The feed roll is driven by the motor and cooperates with the idle roll to feed the strap or Wire through the device. The peripheral surface of the feed roll is preferably knurled to facilitate gripping the strap to move it through the feeding device.

When a predetermined length of strap has been fed through the bite between the feed roll and the cooperating idle roll, the motor and the solenoid air valve are both Cle-energized to stop the feeding movement of the strap and to move the motor and feed roll out of the way so that the strap that has been fed can be readily released from the feeding device. The length of the strap fed by the device may be controlled automatically, or it may be controlled by manual operation of the switch.

The structure means of which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be fully described in the following specication, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE l is la top plan view of a strap feeding device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE `l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the device with a portion of the device cut away to more clearly show other portions thereof;

LFIGURE 4 is a view, similar to FIGURES 2 and 3, but showing the mechanism in a retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational View of the feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3, with the motor removed;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the feeding mechanism secured to the stationary pant of the device; and

'FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of part of the platform and the portion of the feeding mechanism secured thereto.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown inthe drawings is a strap feeding device which is mounted in a support frame 2 that has a base 3, uprights 4, 5, 6 and 7 at each corner of the base, and a top 8 that extends laterally beyond the uprights 6 and 7. A motor 9 is rigidly secured to a platform 1i) in any suitable manner, as, for example, by bolts 11.

One end of the platform is pivotally supported by a shaft I12 that extends through apertures in lugs N13 and 14 depending from the platform 10 adjacent said one end thereof. The shaft 12 is carried by a pair of links 15 and 16 in which its opposite ends are journalled, as indidicated at 17 and 18, respectively. A collar 19 (FIG- URE 5) is rigidly secured, as by set screws, to shaft 12 adjacent to the link 15, and a similar collar 20 is secured adjacent to the link 16 to prevent lateral or axial movement of the shaft. The other end of link y1.5 is pivotally mounted on a fixed stub shaft 2:1 that projects laterally from the upright 6; and the other end of link 16- is similarly mounted on a stub shaft 22 projecting from the upright 7. The pivotal mounting of the links 15 and 16 provides a floating support for the end of the platform 10.

The opposite end of the platform 10 is also provided with a heating pivotal support. A bar 23 extending transversely of the opposite end of the platform is rigidly secured thereto by screws 24. The ends of the bar 23 are provided with trunnions 25 and 26 on which there are pivotally disposed a pair of links 27 and 28, respectively. The links 27 and 28 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 29 the ends of which are mounted in the uprights 4 and 5. Collars 30 and 31, fixed to shaft 29, prevent axial movement of the shaft relative to the links 27 and 28.

The floating pivotal supports at the opposite ends of platform 1i) permit th'e platform Ito move pivotally between the horizontal position shown in FIGURE 3, in which the motor is disposed in operative position, and the tilted, angular position shown in FIGURE 4, in which the motor is held in an out-of-the-way position to permit strap handled by the device to be readily removed therefrom.

For the proper operation of the device it is important that the platform and motor and certain mechanism associ-ated therewith hereinafter described be accurately positioned with reference to other mechanism that is mounted in fixed position on the support frame 2 when the platform is in a raised or forward position as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. For this purpose an adjustable screw 32 depending from the top 8 engages an upper portion of motor 9 to prevent upward movement of the platform above the desired horizontal position shown in FIGURE 3. Adjustable nuts 33 are provided at each side of the support frame to engage opposite sides of the motor to prevent any lateral movement of the motor.

The means for moving the platform 10', with the motor and associated mechanism mounted thereon, comprises a double acting piston and cylinder assembly including a cylinder 34 having a piston rod 35 disposed to reciprocate therein. Movement of the piston rod iscontrolled by a solenoid operated 4-way air valve 36 which is connected to a source of air by an air line 37. The solenoid air valve is controlled by an on-off switch 38 mounted on fa control panel 39. I'he control panel also includes a selector switch 40` so that the operation may be controlled either automatically or manually. A foot operated switch (not shown) is also provided.

It will be understood that suitable electrical and pneumatic circuitry is provided for the operation of the device through either the automatic or the manual controls. When the device is operated automatically, an electrical circuit is arranged so that when the desired length of strap has been fed the motor is de-energized aotaaea rb D and the solenoid air valve is operated to move the platform and motor away from the operative position to release the strap.

The head end of the cylinder 34 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 29 by means of apertured ears 41 and 42 receiving the shaft and projecting from that end of the cylinder. Suitable washers are mounted on the shaft between the links 27, 23 and the ears 41, 42 as well as between said links and the adjacent collars 30, 31.

The outer end of the piston rod 35 has an extension lug 43` thereon which is provided with a transversely extending aperture through which the shaft '12 extends. In their embodlment of the invention the extension is mounted on shaft 12 between the lugs 13 and 14 that depend -from the platform 10. Thus the piston and cylinder `assembly is suspended between the movable pivot shaft 12 and the fixed pivot shaft 2% and operates as a variable, extendible link therebetween to controllably swing the platform.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the piston rod 35 is in its extended position when the motor 9 is in its operative position. Retracting movement of the piston rod 35 relative to the cylinder 34 moves links 15 and 16 about the fixed pivots 21 and 22, respectively, and thereby pulls one end of the platform downwardly and rearwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 4. The downward and rearward movement of the front end of the platform causes an upward and rearward movement of the other end of the platform on the links 27 and 2-8 about the axis of pivot shaft 29. The relationship of the links 15, 16, 27 and 28 with the various pivots causes the platform and motor to swing in an arc and move laterally away from the operative position of the motor to release the strapy and to provide clearance for various parts of the strap feeding mechanism during such movement.

The strap feeding mechanism includes a plurality of elements that are mounted in fixed locations relative to the support frame 2 and a plurality of elements that are movable with the platform and the motor into cooperating relationship with the first mentioned elements.

A plate 44 depending from the projecting portion of the top 8 is secured thereto by screws or bolts 45. A strap-feed backing roll 46 is rotatably mounted on a stud 47 projecting laterally from the plate 44. Ahead of the roll 46, the fixed upper and outer portions of an entrance and strap guide chute 48 is rigidly mounted on the plate 44 by bolts `49 that project through apertures in the plate and in a vertical iiange 50 that projects upwardly from the center of the top wall 51 of the chute 48.

The fixed portion of the entrance chute includes two side walls 52, 53 and laterally spaced bottom wall portions 54 with a gap 63 therebetween, in addition to the top wall 51. All of these walls converge from a large front opening to `a small rear opening that is spaced forwardly of the roll 46. Flanges 55 and 56 extend rearwardly of the rear opening and cooperate to support a horizontally extending shaft 57 on which an upper guide roll 58 is rotatably mounted. Vertical shafts 59 and 66, depending respectively from iianges 55 and 56, support guide rolls 61, 62 that are mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane. l

The movably mounted elements include a feed roll 64 mounted on the output shaft 65 of the motor 9. The peripheral surface of roll 64 is preferably knurled, as indicated at 66. When the platform 10 is moved to place the motor in its operative position, the roll `6dr is positioned in substantially tangential relationship to the roll 46 slightly to the rear of roll 58.

A lug 67 projecting upwardly from one corner of platform 10` supports a forwardly projecting tongue 63 that is adapted to fit in the gap 63. When the platform 1.0 is moved to carry the motor into its operative position the tongue 68 fits into the gap 63 to insure proper relationship between the various rolls that are mounted in fixed locations and those that are moved into cooperating relationship with them. A shaft 69 extending horizontallyv from the upper edge portion of the lug 67 supports a roll 70 adapted to be positioned adjacent the roll S6 to helpguide the strap between rolls 46 and 64.

The peripheral surface of each of the guide rolls 61 and 62 traverses the bite between the guide rolls 5S and 70. The leading end of a length of strap S fed manually into the entrance chute i8 is guided laterally by the rolls 61 and 62, and vertically by the rolls 58 and 76 to the bite between rolls 46 and 64. The rolls 46 and 64 are so spaced, relative to the thickness of the strap fed therebetween that the knurled surface of roll 64 exerts sufficient friction against the strap to advance the strap longitudinally as the roll 64 is driven by the motor.

When the desired length of strap is advanced through the bite between rolis 46 and 64 the motor is stopped, either automatically or by a manually controlled switch, and the solenoid air valve is de-energized to move the motor into inoperative position. The movement of the motor into inoperative position also moves the roll 64 from its cooperative relationship with the roll 46 and the roll ifi from its cooperative relationship with the roll 55e. The strap may then be readily released from the feeding device and applied to the package for which it is intended. As soon as the strap is released from the feeding device the motor is again moved into its operative position for feeding another length of strap.

Although there is described a preferred embodiment of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of construction may be modified or changed without departing `from the spirit or scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. A feeding device to move elongated material longitudinally thereof and then release the same, comprisingY a support structure, a rst rotatable material-engaging' element mounted in fixed position relative to said sup-A port structure, a second rotatable material-engaging element mounted for movement toward and away from said first element and into and out of material-moving cooperative relation with said first element, means to rotatably drive at least one of said elements, and reversible means to move said second element from said material-moving cooperative relation with said first element to a position suiciently remote from said first element to permit free movement of the elongated material in a direction radially of said first element, and to return said second element to said cooperative relation with said first element.

2. A feeding device to move elongated material longitudinally thereof and then release the same, comprising` a support structure, a first rotatable material-engaging roll mounted in fixed position relative to said support' structure, la second rotatable material-engaging roll mount' ed for movement ltoward and away from said first roll and into and out of material-moving cooperative relation with said first roll, a motor to rotatably drive at least one ofV said rolls, and reversible means to move said second roll, axially and radially thereof, from said material-moving cooperative relation with said first roll to a position sufficiently remote from said first roll to permit free movement of the elongated material in a direction radially of said first roll, and to return said second roll to said cooperative relation with said first roll.

3. A feeding device to move elongated material longitudinally thereof and then release the same, comprising a support structure, a first rotatable material-engaging roll mounted in fixed position on said support structure, a platform pivotally swingingly supported on said support structure, a motor mounted on said platform, a second rotatable material-engaging roll connected to said motor to be driven thereby, and reversible means connected to said platform and to said support structure to move said platform and thereby move said second roll from a material-engaging cooperative relation with said first roll to a position sufficiently remote from said first roll to permit free movement of the elongated material in a direction radially of said first roll, and to return said second roll to said cooperative relation with said first roll.

4. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a roll rotatably mounted in xed position relative to said frame, a second roll, a motor operatively connected to said second roll for rotating it, and means for moving said second roll into cooperative relationship with said first mentioned roll and out of said relation to a position permitting movement of strap radially of said first mentioned roll, -said rolls being adapted to cooperate to move a length of strap longitudinally as said second roll is rotated by said motor.

5. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a first roll rotatably mounted in fixed position relative to said frame, a second roll movably mounted relative to said frame, a motor operatively connected to said second rol-l, and means for pivotally moving said second roll into and out of tangential relationship to said first roll, said motor being operable to rotate said second roll in tangential relationship to said first roll for feeding strap beytween said rolls, movement of said second roll out of tangential relationship with said first roll being effective to release strap fed between said first and second rolls for removal from said strap feeding device radially of said first roll.

6. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a rst roll rotatably mounted in fixed position relative to said frame, a second roll movably mounted relative to said frame, a piston and cylinder assembly connected to pivotally move said second roll into strap drivingsubstantially tangential relationship wi-th said first roll, a motor operatively connected to said second roll to rotate the same whereby a strap positioned between said first and second rolls is fed longitudinally between said rolls, and means for actuating said piston and cylinder assembly to move said second roll out of said relationship with said first roll when a desired length of strap has been fed between said rolls to release said strap from the strap feeding device.

7. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said frame, a platform movably secured to said frame, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll operatively connected to said motor, said motor being operable to rotate said feed roll, and means for moving said platform to position said feed roll into cooperative relationship With said first mentioned roll whereby rotation of said feed roll will impart longitudinal movement to a length of strap positioned between said rolls.

8. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a roll rotatably mounted on said frame, Ia platform pivotally secured to said frame, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll connected to said motor to be driven thereby, and reversible means for pivotally moving said platform to move said feed roll into strap-engaging cooperative relation with said first mentioned roll, and out of said cooperative relation to a position permitting movement of said strap radially of said first mentioned roll.

9. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said frame, a platform, links supporting and pivotally connecting said platform to said frame at one end of said platform kand other links pivotally connecting said platform to said frame at the other end of said platform and suspending said platform, contractable means connected to said frame and said platform, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll connected to said motor to be driven thereby, and means controlling said contractable means lto operate the same to move said platform and thereby move said roll into a position of cooperative relationship with the first mentioned roll to drive strap therebetween and out of said position to a second position, by swinging said platform, to permit strap fed by the device to be removed therefrom in a direction substantially radially of the rst mentioned roll.

l0. A strap feeding device comprising `a frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said iframe, a platform, means pivotally secured Ito said frame for supporting said platform, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll operatively connected to said motor, said motor being operable to rotate said feed roll, and a piston and cylinder assembly for moving said platform to position said 'feed roll into cooperative relationship with said first mentioned roll whereby rotation of said feed roll will impart longitudinal movement to a length of strap positioned between said rolls.

11. A strap feeding device comprisingl a frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said frame, a platform movably secured to said frame, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll operatively connected to said motor, said motor being operable to rotate said lfeed roll, means to move said platform to position said feed roll into cooperative relationship with said first mentioned roll and to move said platform away `from said position, `and a plurality of guide rolls positioned forwardly of said first mentioned roll and said -feed roll, said guide rolls being arranged to direct one end of a length of strap between said first mentioned roll and said feed roll, whereby operation of said motor will move said length of strap longitudinally between said first mentioned roll and said feed roll.

l2. A strap feeding device comprising a frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said frame, a platform movably secured to said frame, a motor mounted on said platform, a feed roll operatively connected to said motor, said motor being operable to rotate said feed roll, and means to move said plat-form into operative position to move said feed roll into cooperative relationship with said first mentioned roll and to move said. platform away from said position, an open ended chute mounted on said frame, said chute having a large front opening and side walls converging to a small rear opening spaced forwardly of said rst mentioned roll and said feed roll, guide means positioned rearwardly of said chute, and guide means supported by said platform, said second mentioned guide means cooperating with said first mentioned guide means, when said platform is in operative position, to guide a length of strap passed through said chute between said feed roll and said first mentioned roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,607 Steurer Ian. 20, 1931 1,916,845 Leland July 4, 1933 2,325,063 Krueger July 27, 1943 

